JPH02198848A - Ink-jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable various recording such as highly precise and minute printing, high-speed printing, color printing, etc. in response to application by using various ink-jet heads in one recorder and providing a control means corresponding to the number of ink-jet tips and an ink color. CONSTITUTION:An ink-jet tip 55 discharging cyan ink, an ink-jet tip 56 discharging magenta ink, an ink-jet tip 57 discharging yellow ink, and an ink-jet tip 58 discharging black ink are housed in one frame body 52. Each ink-jet tip 55-58 is equalized to a tip 42 housed in an ink-jet head 41 for high minute printing. One parts of connectors 59 on the bases of each tip 55-58 are connected selectively to a flexible section 53, and the flexible section 53 is bonded with a connector 54. Since each tip 55-58 is thinned selectively and driven, the mutual positions of each chip are set in the frame body 52, and no positional displacement of dots is generated in the height direction.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a method suitable for color printing and monochrome high-speed printing.
The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device equipped with a head.

[Prior art]

Recording devices such as printers and facsimiles are classified into thermal type, wire dot type, ink shared type, etc. depending on the recording method.

Among these, the inkjet type supplies ink to a recording head that has at least one liquid path, and also drives an energy generator installed in the cough liquid path based on the recorded information to apply pressure to the ink in the liquid path. However, the ink is ejected from the ejection opening to form flying droplets, and the droplets are attached to a recording medium to record a dot pattern.

By the way, in conventional inkjet recording devices,
The recording head has a structure in which a shift register and a drive circuit are incorporated, and an ejection opening forming member (orifice plate) in which a plurality of ink ejection openings are integrally formed is used.

[Technical problem to be solved by the invention] However,
In the conventional structure described above, since the ink ejection ports are integrally formed on the orifice plate, it is not easy to change the number of colors or resolution, for example.

In addition, when multiple recording heads are installed to achieve multicolor printing or high speed printing, the signals that drive each head cannot be transmitted in parallel because they have internal shift registers and drive circuits. As many connectors as there are recording heads are required for sending signals from the recording apparatus main body. For this reason, it has been impossible to perform single-color high-definition printing, low-definition high-speed printing, or multicolor printing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned prior art, and has the following features:
An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording device that can use several types of recording heads in one recording device and can perform various kinds of recording such as high-definition printing, high-speed printing, and color printing depending on the purpose.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides an inkjet chip having ink ejection ports arranged in a row, a heater section formed corresponding to each ink ejection port, a connector section for transmitting driving energy to the heater section, and an ink liquid path. A connector of a device that is connected to a connector portion of an inkjet cartridge that electrically connects the inkjet cartridge to a recording device main body in which an inkjet cartridge in which one or more of the inkjet chips is housed in a frame is mounted. Since the inkjet recording device is constructed in a shape common to inkjet cartridges in which both parts can be installed, various inkjet heads can be used in one recording device, and control means are provided depending on the number of inkjet chips and ink color. This provides an inkjet recording device that can perform various types of recording, such as high-definition printing, high-speed printing, and color printing, depending on the application.

[Embodiment 1] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an inkjet recording apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a recording medium 8 such as paper is supported by a platen roller 6 and a conveyance roller rough, and is conveyed by the platen roller 6 driven by the paper feed motor 4 in six directions of arrows. A guide shaft 5.5 is provided in front of and parallel to the platen roller 6, and the carriage 2 is guided along the guide shaft 5.5.
receives the force of the carriage motor 3 through the belt 9 and is driven back and forth in the direction of arrow B.

A recording head 1 (a general term for inkjet heads 41 and 51 to be described later) is mounted on the carriage 2, and on a surface facing the recording medium 8 at a predetermined interval (for example, 1.0 mm), recording heads are arranged in a vertical row. A plurality of ink ejection ports 43 (Fig. 4) are formed, and flying ink droplets are formed by driving the electrothermal converter 71 (Fig. 7) of each ink ejection port based on recording data, and recording is performed. Recording is performed while adhering to the medium 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the carriage 2, in which 3
1 is a recording head (inkjet head) 4I which will be described later.
(FIG. 4) and 51 (FIG. 5). It is a 16-pole connector (male side) for supplying drive signals, and is connected to the connector section 44 or 54 of the inkjet heads 41 and 51, respectively. Reference numeral 32 denotes a claw for fixing the inkjet heads 41 and 51. 34 is a flexible cable that electrically connects the control unit lO of the printer main body and the connector 31.

Figure 4 shows an inkjet head for high-definition printing.
A chip 42 having 64 ink ejection ports 43 arranged in a row at a pitch of 1/360 inch is housed.

44 is connected to the connector 31 of the carriage 2,
A drive signal is supplied to the internal heating element.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the internal structure of the inkjet printer 41. As shown in FIG. One end of each of the 64 heating elements 71 is connected in parallel to the S- of the connector cover 44.
0 shots connected from 1 to S-8! ! ) The other ends of the elements are connected through a diode 72 to C-t to C-8 of the connector 44 in groups of eight consecutive elements. In this way, the heating elements 71 have a matrix configuration.

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show the appearance and central cross-section of an inkjet head for multicolor printing, including an inkjet chip 55 that ejects cyan ink, an inkjet chip 56 that ejects magenta ink, and an inkjet chip 56 that ejects yellow ink. An inkjet chip 57 for ejecting black ink and inkjet chips 5 and 8 for ejecting black ink are housed in one frame 52. Each inkjet chip 55
~58 is the inkjet head 41 for high-definition printing.
It is the same as the chip 42 housed in (Fig. 4). As shown in FIG. 5(b), a portion of the connector 59 on the bottom of each chip 55 to 58 is selectively connected to the flexible connector 59.
3, and its flexible cable 53 is connected to a connector 54. 8 is a circuit diagram showing the internal structure of the inkjet head 51 shown in FIG. 5, and each chip 55 to
58 are selectively thinned out and driven as shown in FIG. 8, the mutual position of each chip is set within the frame 52, and consideration is given to prevent dot position deviation in the height direction. .

Note that FIG. 6 shows an inkjet head 61 according to another embodiment to be described later. Returning to FIG. 1 again, 10 is a printed circuit board having an electric circuit for driving the recording apparatus of this embodiment. A host device (not shown), which is an external device, is connected to this electric circuit, and data (recorded information) sent from the host device is recorded.

FIG. 10 shows a block circuit of this embodiment, and cp
The microprocessor sensor 101 is connected to a host computer via an interface 102, and receives recorded data signals read from the host computer into a data memory 103, as well as a program memory.
04. Working memory 105 controls the recording operation based on a program stored in a ROM.

CPU10I is output boat 106, motor driver I
In addition to controlling the carriage motor 3 and paper feed motor 4 via the data memory 103, the recording head 1 is controlled via the recording control circuit 109 according to the contents stored in the data memory 103.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of the recording control circuit.

103 is a data memory for storing recorded data;
Reference numerals 111 and 112 designate address counters for specifying the address of the data memory, and in this figure, for convenience, the data memory 103 is accessed by specifying a row address and a column address. Reference numeral 113 is a timer, which receives a signal (
For example, if the carriage motor 3 in FIG. 1 is a pulse motor, a predetermined pulse @ (for example, 10 μ5ec) is generated using the pulse signal that drives it as a trigger. 11
4 is a three-person decoder connected to the transistor array 115, and selects one of the eight to drive (ON).
), the transistor array 115 is connected to C-1 to C-8 of the recording head 1 via the flexible board 34 shown in FIG.

The other transistor array 116 is connected to the 8-bit data bus 117 of the data memory 103 and is driven (ON) according to the recording data. The collector is connected to the recording head 1 via the flexible plate 34 (Figure 13).
t is connected to S-8.

Next, the sequence of the recording control circuit of FIG. 11 will be explained with reference to the time chart of FIG. 12.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, cpuiot stores recorded information edited according to recorded data and command data from the host computer in the data memory 103.

CPUl0I then generates a reset signal 118, and the row address counter 111 and column address counter 11
Reset 2. That is, 1- of data memory 103
Specify address 1. Thereafter, the CPU 10I starts the carriage motor 3 to scan the carriage 2. If the carriage motor 3 is a pulse motor, the drive pulse signal becomes the scanning signal 119, and the timer 113 obtains a predetermined pulse width. The output is an energization signal 120, which is supplied as an enable signal to the decoder 114, and is sent to the recording head 1 (Fig. 1).
Determine the driving time.

The energization signal 120 is also connected to the row address counter 111, and the address counter is updated when the signal falls, that is, when the driving of the recording head 1 ends, and the 0 row address counter 111, which specifies address 2-1, is updated. Since it is set as an octal counter, it is reset every time eight energization signals 120 are input, and simultaneously generates a carry signal 121 and updates the column address counter 112. The recording operation is then sequentially repeated and the recording operation is stopped when addresses 8-N are completed.

The bit configuration of the recorded information in the data memory 103 at this time differs depending on the recording head used. 13 to 15 show the bit configurations and printing results of the data memory of each recording head shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, respectively. In the case of the high-definition inkjet head 41 shown in FIG. (
As in a), 1. Kl at address n, 8 from n (representing the 1st row and nth column of black). n is 8. Address n is 57. From n to 64. The recording information corresponding to the n dot position is stored, and the recording result is shown in (b) in Fig. 13.
) is shown. That is, 64 printed dots are formed at intervals of 1/360 inch.

Also, the interval between each chip 55 and 58 is j! ! XI/90
In the case of the inch multicolor inkjet head 51, that is, the recording head 51 shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. , n+1 (L indicating the 1st row and n+1st column of magenta)
Yl, n+21C 1 row of yellow, n+2! ) + K1 + n + 31 (indicates the 1st row and n + 31st column of black) C2, n = K 2 + n + 31 is 8 - n
The address is C15+n...K16. Recorded information corresponding to the n+34+ dot position is stored. The recording result is shown in (b). That is, 64 16×4 printed dots are formed at intervals of 1790 inches in the vertical direction and ff1xl/90 inches in the horizontal direction. By setting the scanning step to 1790 inches, printing dots can be formed at 1/90 inch intervals both vertically and horizontally.

Next, a method of editing recording information from a host computer according to the recording head to be used will be explained.

FIG. 16 shows the received data format when the recording head used is a high-definition inkjet head 41. Data for 8 vertical dots from 1 to 8 is received in the first byte, and the data is Store at address 1.1 of memory 103. The 2nd byte is stored at address 1-2, the 8th byte is stored at address 8.1, the 9th byte is stored at address 1-2, and the 8th byte is stored at address 8-N in the same manner.

17(a) and 17(b) show formats of received data and mask data when the multicolor inkjet head 51 of FIG. 5 is mounted on the recording head. Two vertical dots of each color are received in the first byte. If this is stored as is at address 1.1 of the data memory 103, the chips of each color will be spaced at intervals (lxl/9
0), data that should normally be printed in the same position is printed in positions separated by (NXI/90 inch) intervals. Therefore, before storing the received data in the data memory 103. , first data memory 1
Clear 03 to 0.0 Next, perform an AND with the received data and mask data, and store it in the data memory 103.
The data and ORL at address 1 are stored at address 1.1. Similarly, AND the received data and mask data Y,
ORL it with the data at address 1.1+6 and 1.1+
Store at address n. In the same way, move the magenta data to address 1.1+21 and the cyan data to address 1.1+3.
# Store in address. From the 2nd byte onward, use the same method to put yellow data at address 1.2 of black at 1.2+J!
Magenta data is stored at address 1.2+21, and cyan data is stored at address 1.2+:1. Thereafter, the same method is used up to 8x (N-37 bytes).

[Other Examples] Two 1/360 inch 64 nozzle chips used in Example 1 shown in Fig. 4 were used, and the interval between them was 1 (1/180
x (2 to 1) inches, ie, an odd number), and both ink colors are black.

By scanning 1/90 inch in one step, it is possible to print with a dot interval of 1/180 inch.

In that case, the dot spacing is twice that of high definition, but
Printing speed is quadrupled.

Fig. 6 shows the appearance of an inkjet head 61 using these two chips, Fig. 9 shows a connection circuit diagram of each chip, and Figs. 15 (a) and (b) show the bits of the data memory. The configuration and recording results are shown, and FIGS. 18(a) and 18(b) show the formats of the received data and mask data, respectively.

In this case, gradation printing is also possible by changing the ink colors to dark blank and pale black.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, there are ink ejection ports arranged in a row, a heater section formed corresponding to each ink ejection port, and a driving energy applied to the heater section. Using an inkjet chip that has a connector part that conveys the information and an ink liquid path,
A recording device main body in which an ink shared cartridge containing one or more of the inkjet chips housed in a frame is mounted, and a connector portion of the device that is connected to a connector portion of the inkjet cartridge for electrically connecting the inkjet cartridge. Since the shape is common to inkjet cartridges that can be used in the device, the ink ejection ports are arranged in a single vertical line at extremely short intervals, and a matrix structure is formed between the heater section in the ejection ports and the electrodes.
In addition, the recording head is constructed by arranging multiple thin inkjet chips in parallel and integrating them into a frame, and the connector shape is the same from single color to multiple colors, so there is no need to change the hardware configuration. A low-cost, simple, serial-type inkjet recording device that can freely perform various types of recording including monochrome and color printing, high-speed draft printing, and even gradation printing can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carriage of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carriage of FIG. (a) and (h) of FIG. FIGS. 7 to 9 are internal wiring diagrams of the recording heads shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, respectively, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram of FIG. 1. , Fig. 11 is a block diagram of the control system in Fig. 1, and Fig. 12 is a block diagram of the control system in Fig. 1.
1 is a time chart of the operation, and FIGS. 13 to 15 are schematic diagrams showing the bit configuration and recording results of the data memory of the recording head of FIGS. 4 to 6, and FIGS. 16 to 1.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the formats of received data and mask data when using the recording heads shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, respectively. 1-... Recording head (inkjet head), 2...--Carriage, 31.
・---1-・-Connector section, 41-・-・--Recording head, 42・-・・=-・Inkjet chip, 4
3--------Discharge port, 44---Connector section, 51---- Recording head, 5
5-58-・・・・・Inkjet chip,
61...--Recording head, 62, 63...
−・−・・・・Inkjet chip. Agent Patent Attorney Takeshi Ooto (=l) Uke 4 Rata 2 I Guitomekan 5 m Byte B m C2FF+ M2ff! m ff1 (b) Mask team's night-C ε (a) Instigating stage 2I summoning stage (b) 7 Scritter mask 1 X screen 2

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An inkjet chip having ink ejection ports arranged in a row, a heater section formed corresponding to each ink ejection port, a connector section that transmits driving energy to the heater section, and an ink liquid path. a connector section of a device that is connected to a connector section of an inkjet cartridge that electrically connects the inkjet cartridge to a recording device main body in which an inkjet cartridge containing one or more of the inkjet chips housed in a frame is mounted; An inkjet recording device characterized in that it has a shape common to inkjet cartridges in which it can be installed. (2) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control means depending on the number of inkjet chips and the color of the ink. (3) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of inkjet chips included in the inkjet cartridges that can be installed in the apparatus is different.